MOGADISHU — The Federal Government of Somalia has strongly condemned the resurgence of piracy off the coast of Puntland, warning that it will raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council and calling for strengthened international cooperation to combat the growing threat.

In a statement issued on September 6, the government said that since April 2026, there have been attacks and hijackings of commercial vessels, with some incidents extending into the Gulf of Aden. Somali forces are taking action against piracy networks operating both at sea and on land.

The government cited the August 29 operation that freed the hijacked cargo vessel MV Lutuf as the latest example of these efforts, saying further operations would follow. The vessel, a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship, was hijacked by armed pirates off Puntland’s coast on August 17, according to the Associated Press.

Somalia maintains that the rescue was carried out under the defence cooperation agreement with Turkey, which aims at strengthening maritime security, protecting Somalia’s coastline, and combating piracy. The Somali Defence Ministry claimed the operation resulted in the killing of four suspected pirates and the arrest of 14 others.

Dispute Over Rescue Operation

However, Puntland authorities have disputed the federal government’s account of the rescue, accusing Mogadishu of paying a ransom to secure the vessel’s release. Pirates had demanded a ransom of approximately $2 million for the release of the ship and its crew, according to unconfirmed reports.

Puntland has condemned airstrikes off its coast, stating that it possesses specific intelligence indicating that “forces beyond Puntland” are involved in the new piracy operations, and that there are political and financial officials providing support to these groups.

The Turkish government has officially stated that it has no information regarding airstrikes off the Puntland coast that killed nine people, amid growing controversy over attacks that reportedly targeted a mix of fishermen and individuals suspected of being part of Somali pirate networks.

Puntland has emphasized the critical role of collaboration with regional partners in addressing piracy threats, but strongly opposed the manner in which some recent operations have been conducted.

Puntland warned that ransom payment to pirates was a serious mistake and a threat to collective efforts to combat piracy, arguing that they create financial incentives for pirates to continue hijacking vessels and complicate efforts to secure the release of other ships still held by pirates.

International Framework and Legal Basis

The Somali government said international partners are welcome to support Somali maritime forces through a national security framework, in coordination with federal member states. The government linked piracy to broader maritime security concerns, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which it said violated Somalia’s sovereign rights over its marine resources under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Article 100 of UNCLOS calls on states to cooperate in the repression of piracy, providing a legal basis for international cooperation against piracy on the high seas. Somalia also pointed to the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment, regional mechanisms aimed at strengthening cooperation against piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime crimes.

The International Maritime Organization has issued an urgent appeal for the release of seafarers held hostage, warning that their humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly due to severe shortages of food and water and mounting security threats. The IMO reported that six merchant vessels and more than 90 seafarers are now being held captive in the region.

The current piracy surge recalls the 2008-2011 crisis, which cost the global economy an estimated $18 billion annually at its peak. Naval analysts attribute the resurgence to the shift in international naval resources toward the Red Sea, creating a security vacuum that pirate groups are exploiting.

The diversion of international anti-piracy patrols to counter Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait since late 2023 has created a security vacuum, with naval forces further distracted by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The hijacking of the LUTUF, which was carrying Turkish weapons and communications equipment bound for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu, represents the first known seizure of a vessel carrying military cargo in recent years and adds a geopolitical dimension to the piracy crisis.

Critical Note

The federal government’s strong condemnation of piracy and its pledge to raise the issue at the UN Security Council reflect growing concern over the resurgence of a threat that had been largely suppressed for a decade. However, the competing narratives from Mogadishu and Garowe over the MV Lutuf rescue operation highlight the deep mistrust between the federal government and the Puntland administration, which complicates efforts to present a unified front against piracy.

The dispute over whether the vessel was freed through a military operation or a ransom payment is not merely a matter of public relations—it goes to the heart of counter-piracy strategy. Paying ransoms is widely recognized as counterproductive, as it injects resources into criminal networks and incentivizes further attacks. If Puntland’s allegations are accurate, the federal government’s actions would undermine years of international efforts to combat piracy off the Somali coast.

The absence of a coordinated national framework for maritime security, with the federal government and Puntland at odds over operational and strategic approaches, leaves Somalia’s waters vulnerable to exploitation by criminal networks. The international community must press for greater cooperation between Mogadishu and regional states, and ensure that its support for maritime security is channeled through transparent and accountable mechanisms.

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